Chapter 47
HALLE
I handed the customer his kale juice, then stifled a yawn. I must’ve had about four hours’ sleep last night.
And this time it wasn’t just because I was missing Jake.
Vanessa had arranged for me to come to her office after work to do a couple of her colleagues’ nails, which was amazing. Especially as they both asked if I could do them again next week. I officially had my first two customers in New York!
I was buzzing so much when I got home after ten that I started trying to mock up a price list and leaflet for my services and I’d set up my Instagram page.
I wanted to post the photos I’d taken so far, but I’d fallen asleep. Which was something I felt dangerously close to doing again right now.
The lunchtime rush was over, my boss had gone on a break and there were no customers, so now was the perfect time to post them.
I opened the app, selected the first photo, added a caption and a few hashtags, then pressed the post button.
Excitement flooded my chest.
I’d done it!
One photo down. Several more to go.
I started typing out the caption for the second picture.
‘Shouldn’t you be serving customers instead of posting photos on social media?’ A deep voice sounded.
Wait.
I recognised that voice.
My neck snapped up and as I saw who was in front of me, I swear my jaw dropped so far that it could’ve landed on a subway platform.
It was Jake.
He was here.
In New York.
My eyes popped and as I dragged my jaw back above ground, I attempted to speak.
‘J-Jake?’
‘That’s me.’ He flashed his gorgeous smile and my stomach flip-flopped.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘I came to order the InKrediKale.’
‘Do they not sell kale juice in LA?’ I teased, a smile tugging at my lips. I still couldn’t believe he was here.
‘They do, but I heard the server here was pretty cute, so I preferred to ask her to make it for me. And I kinda hoped that I could take her to lunch afterwards.’
‘I don’t think she gets a break for another twenty minutes,’ I grinned, my pulse racing.
‘I can wait. I waited my whole life to find her, so twenty minutes will feel like two seconds.’ Jake stepped forward, reached over the counter and took my hands in his. ‘Especially considering I want to spend forever with her. If she’ll have me.’
My eyebrows shot up.
‘You mean…’ I couldn’t even get the words out.
‘Yep. I missed you. So much. I don’t want to be without you. I want us to be together.’
‘You do?’
‘Yes! I want it all with you. I want forever. And one day we can have our own house with a huge garden and allotment we can both work on.’
‘Oooh,’ I groaned. ‘That is so hot.’
Most people wouldn’t think that a man saying he wanted a garden with them was attractive, but it was for me. I knew how much Jake loved gardening and I did too. But it was also what it represented: a long-term commitment. Spending our lives together.
‘Weeds… plants… flowers… soil…’ he growled in an overexaggerated sexy voice.
‘Oh, Jake…’ I panted dramatically. ‘I love it when you talk dirty to me.’
We both tried so hard to keep up the act, but then burst out laughing.
‘I mean it, Smiley. I’m ready to start a life with you. And if that means moving to New York, so be it. Hell, I’d move to the moon if it meant being with you. You’re it for me, baby. I love you.’
A tear rolled down my cheek.
‘I love you too,’ I said.
‘Yeah?’ Jake grinned.
‘Yeah. I’ve missed you like mad,’ I added and Jake’s face lit up. ‘And there’s no need to go to the moon. New York will be just fine!’
I raced from behind the counter and ran straight into Jake’s arms.
He tilted my chin up, then pressed his lips onto mine.
As our mouths moulded together, wave upon wave of happiness, joy, relief and elation washed over me.
Jake had come to find me.
And best of all, he said he wanted forever.
Suddenly a round of applause filled the shop. When Jake and I sprang apart, I saw my co-workers and a customer I didn’t see come in clapping and grinning.
Then I saw my boss, who had a face like thunder.
I should be worried about getting fired, especially seeing as Jake and I would need money to pay the bills, but I was too happy to care.
Somehow I knew that with Jake by my side and the love we had for each other, that would be enough. Together, we’d find a way to get through anything that the world threw at us.
‘So I take it that’s a yes, then? The offer to live with you still stands?’ Jake asked, ignoring the commotion going on around us.
‘No,’ I said solemnly. ‘It’s not a yes. It’s a hell, yeah!’
Jake picked me up and spun me around with such force that I almost kicked my boss in the crotch. I knew several of my co-workers would’ve said he deserved it, but it wasn’t deliberate. Honest.
‘Cut that shit out!’ my boss spat. ‘We don’t allow canoodling on the premises.’
‘I guess that means I better leave and canoodle outside then!’ I untied my apron, dropped it on the counter, took Jake’s hand and walked towards the door.
‘Where are you going? Your break doesn’t start for another ten minutes!’
‘I’m going to follow my dreams, with the love of my life.’ I took Jake’s hand and led him out the door with my head held high.
I’d gone to the Love Hotel to find my soulmate, but I’d left with so much more.
I had a newfound confidence, self-belief, the chance of a new career and a romance that I knew was going to last a lifetime.
Jake wasn’t just my Mr Right.
He was my Mr Forever.
And after waiting a lifetime to find a man like him, I didn’t want to wait another second.
This time, there was no holding back.
My forever with Jake started right now.